The Japanese and US space agencies launch a satellite that will monitor snow
and rainfall around the world to give scientists a better understanding of
weather patterns and their impact on Earth

The Japanese and US space agencies launched a satellite on Friday that will monitor snow and rainfall around the world to give scientists a better understanding of weather patterns and their impact on Earth.

A Japanese rocket carrying the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory took off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan at 0337 local time (1837 GMT Thursday).

The satellite will boost the capabilities of the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission, a project first launched in 1997 by Nasa and Japan's JAXA.

The TRMM measures precipitation in the tropics, but the GPM Core Observatory is to expand the coverage area from the Arctic to the Antarctic Circle.

After months of turbulent weather around the world, Nasa says the satellite may help scientists to better understand climate change.